At the 78th World Health Assembly, the African Union and WHO renewed their MoU to strengthen health security and expand universal health coverage across Africa.
On the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, the African Union (AU) Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that renews a strategic partnership first forged in 2019. The agreement, signed by AU Health Commissioner Amma Adomaa Twum‑Amoah on behalf of Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and WHO Director‑General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, signals a coordinated push to reinforce health security, universal health coverage (UHC) and sustainable development throughout Africa.
Key priorities under the renewed MoU
The five‑point framework focuses on:
- Health‑systems strengthening: harmonising regulations, supporting local pharmaceutical production, advancing digital health, and building a resilient health workforce.
- Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH): scaling the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA Plus) and promoting the revised Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization.
- Disease prevention and control: implementing AU strategies on communicable and non‑communicable diseases, targeting AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and viral hepatitis.
- Nutrition and food security: operationalising the Africa Nutrition Strategy 2015‑2025 alongside WHO nutrition initiatives.
- Health in emergency settings: enhancing joint responses to humanitarian crises, conflicts and climate‑related emergencies.
Why the timing matters
Commissioner Twum‑Amoah emphasized that the partnership arrives at a “critical juncture” when many African health ministries face shrinking bilateral aid. She urged a shift from “budgeting for survival to planning for health sovereignty,” highlighting the AU’s growing voice in global health governance, including its G20 membership.
Dr Tedros echoed the sentiment, noting that the renewed MoU is designed to move the continent away from aid dependency toward sustainable self‑reliance. “We are proud to stand with the African Union in driving forward the health priorities of the continent,” he said.
Looking ahead
By streamlining collaboration across AU entities and reaffirming WHO’s technical leadership, the MoU aims to translate high‑level commitments into tangible outcomes for millions of Africans. The partnership is expected to accelerate progress toward health‑related Sustainable Development Goals, bolster regional resilience and set a precedent for multilateral cooperation in the face of global financial constraints.
This article is based on a press release from the African Union Commission and the World Health Organization.
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